I think that there are a lot of good ideas here.

I agree that you might need to change the way that you do business. If a
customer is not paying what he owes, you need to cut them off. Managing
accounts receivable is key to the survival of any business.

I also agree that bringing in a collection agency might be required. Your
collection skills might be lacking, but at the very least you should inform
the customers in writing that their accounts are seriously past due and that
you might be forced to send their account to collections within X days if
payment is not forthcoming.

If you are having problems getting paid I can tell you from experience the
"squeaky wheel gets the oil". This means you need to continue contact those
companies and let them know they need to pay. You need to stay on top of any
company that owes you money and stay on top of that. You may be worried about
ruining relationships with your current clients but if they are not paying,
that's not the type of client you want. Consider hiring an outside company to
help with collections if you are really worried about being the "bad guy".
Then if that doesn't work, you can threaten to break their thumbs. Kidding of
course.

One more thing I just thought of. Have you considered that your customers are
taking advantage of you? They know they can get away with not paying and thus
are doing it. You might be thinking - what if I force them pay up front or
find another printer - they will go away and you will lose business - right?
Well, you keep going down this path and you will lose your business anyways.
Why should your business suffer if becuase your customers lhave bad
customers? You can't change who their customers are but you can change how
your customers pay you.

You have to get tough and save your company. If they aren't paying - for
whatever the reason - then they aren't good customers. Too many bad customers
and they kill your business.

If they know they can get away with it - they will. Make them pay either up
front or enforce your invoices - no questions asked. If they get mad - tough
- you have your business to save.

What do they care if you go out of business - they will just try to find
another printer that they can abuse.

Get tough!!!!

Agree - get something up front if you can - half at least. Have you looked
into a line of credit that can help smooth out your income. You draw from the
line when needed and only pay interest on what you draw?
Or, if you are invoicing these customers - you can factor those invoices into
a line of credit. We have information about these and a searchable database
of lenders to get you started - no cost and no personal information required.

It happens in business turnarounds, sometimes good sometimes bad, an
important focus and you persevere to get through it, you'll surely succeed
again

I feel for you. The current economy has played havoc with many small businesses. You may need to change the way you do business. You shouldn't allow customers to take their printing until it is paid for. As is it now, if I understand correctly, they are getting the benefits of your labor without paying you. You might ask for payment in advance or half in advance and the balance when they pick up the product. Just don't let them out the door with the product without payment. If they need brochures, signage, or whatever for their business, they will find a way to pay for it.